Wichita eagle., 1887-05-31
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
A TRAVELLERS NOTES WHILE IN
THE HAWAIIAN GROUP.

Islands-Delightful Climate and Rich
soil-Indolent People and Their Social
Customs-Food Products.
The Hawaiian islands are the most ocean
isolated portion of the inhabited globe. They
constitute q group of eight inhabited and four
uninhabited islands They are situated In
the Pacific ocean in latitude 10 degA to "
degs north, and longitude 155 dega to l60
dogs west. From Honoluls, the capital and
principal city Of the group, located on tho
island of Oahu, the distance to San Francisco
lin round numbers) is 2, 100 miles; to Yoko-
homa, Japan, S.4O0; to Hong Kong, China
1900, and to Sydney, Australia, 4. 500
The names and area of the inhabited ISLANDS
are Hawaii, 1900 square miles; MAUI, 'ooi
Ouhu, 600; Kauai, 500; Molokai, 80; Laua1,
$50; Kahoolawe, 63, and Nihau, W.Hawan
being nearly double the area Of all the other
islands combined. They are clearly volcanic
in their origin, the most western island, in tho
opinion Of biologists, having been first thrown
up. then the one next east Of it, and, follow
ing in order, to Hawaii, the most eastern,
which is to-day in an unfinished state, power
full volcanic forces being still actively at work
there.
Though within the torrid cone, the climate
Is temperate rather than tropical. am told
there is no word in the native language e1-
pressive of the idea Of weather, evidence that
extremes Of heat and cold are unknown
During ten years at Honolulu the highest and
lowest temperatures in the shade, according
to published official record, were 80 degs. and
81 dogs. the greatest change within twenty
four hours being IL dogs. AS the islands are
in fho jnfQr1Or
elevation of 5000, 5000, 1900, and Mauna
Kea in Hawaii to IA 900 feet, every kind Of
climate may lie found. from that Of perpetual
summer to that of eternal winter. The trade
winds blow nine months Of the year, temper
ing the heat and imparting freshness and
salubrity to the atmosphere of the lowlands
along the coast. The climate is claimed to be
very healthful There are heavy rainfalls
during certain months of the year-much
heavier on the windward than on the leeward
side of the islands. At Hilo on the east coast
of Hawaii, it is said eighteen feet Of rain have
fallen in a single year.
The soil is decomposed lava and sand, and
is generally thin and poor In the valleys
and plains along the base Of the mountains,
whose disintegration and accumulation Of
vegetable mold have gone on for ages, there
cane fourishes, and extensive plantations are
devoted exclusively to its growth. The sugar
industry is the principal agricultural interest
of the islands, rice standing second. Fine
pasturage is abundant, and large herds OF
cattle, horses, sheep and goats are bred and
fattened in the upland valleys. On the
higher slopes Of Hawaii wild horses, cattlo
and hogs abound, and here adventurous
Q,,l nd in
hunting them. These horses and cattle are
the descendants of those brought here by
Europeans which from time to time have ss-
capped, and have rapidly multiplied; but the
| hogs are Indigenous There are extensive
forest. but the most valuable timber. sandal
wood, once abundant, has become almost en-
tirely exhausted. Fruits of great variety and
excellence grow spontaneously. Among these
| are the banana, plantain, cocoanut, candle
| nut bread fruit, guava, pineapple, orange,
| lemon, lime, mango, papia and many Others.
| Sweet potatoes, yams, beans, peas and other
| garden vegetables flourish. Strawberries are
| plentiful and cheap. We have had them
served on our table every morning during the
| ten weeks we have been here.
The most important articles of food for the
natives is taro 1t is tuber resembling some
what in form the beet 1t grows in both dry
| and wet soil, is very prolific. is prepared for
table in variety of ways, and is the staple
| food for all classes. From it is made the ma
| tional dish, par excellence, poi, which consti-
| tutes fully four-fifths the support OF the Haw-
aiians 1t is said that forty feet square OF
| land planted with taro will afford subsistence
for one person a whole year: and square
mile will feed II, 427 persons the same length
| of time
The Hawaiians belong to the Malayo-Poly-
nesian race They are Of light brown COM
| plexion, have broad faces. prominent lips,
fiat noses, full chins, with straight, black hair
and light boards They are Of good size, are
well formed, quick in movement, and gener-
ally muscular and strong. They are said to
| he very fond of stimulants, and when oppor-
tunity offers often drink to excess; but they
are rarely quarrelsome even under the In
fiuence of liquor They are good natured.
light hearted, careless, indolent, pleasure low
| ing people; are improvident, thoughtless about
| the future, and generous to fault They
are very sympathetic and kind, are capable
of warm friendships and strong attachments
| They are greaarious, great takers, and much
| given to all social pleasures-music, dancing,
feasting, etc.
| Few Of them possess wealth, few are poor
and none are beggars. They are said for
merly to have been extremely Gcentious, nor
are their morals, In this particular, of the
best even now. They love gay colors, and
are much given to decorating themselves with
| wreaths and garlands of flowers. Many OF
the women are stout, inclining to corpulency.
| which is poorly concealed by the dress uni
versalIy worn by them, the holoka, garment
at one time much favored by certain Ameri'
| can women, and known as the Mother Hub
hard Leprosy prevails, and the govern
| ment has established a settlement on the
Island Of Molokai, to which oil the unfortu
nate class are banished. The settlement
numbers about 1000 souls.
Nearly all Hawaiians can read and write
There are good government schools, with frea
compulsory education. In the common
schools instruction is given in the native
language, but in the higher grades English Il
taught. Under the teachings and influence
of the missionaries large numbers were early
converted to Christianity. They are still
liberal supporters of the gospel The princi
pal churches are tho Congregational, Baptist
and Catholic.-Cor. Cincinnati Commarcia
| Gazette.
| A Question Of Manners.
Omaha Mamma (reading1-"May the angel
shower blessings upon you forever and ever,
| is the way a JapaueSe salutes q fellow coun